Kingston Travel Guide

Kingston Travel Guide

Bustling, squalid and soulful, Kingston is the heart
of one of the Caribbean's most alluring islands and offers visitors
a good dose of natural beauty, a dash of urban ugliness, and a
rollicking party scene.

A holiday in Kingston is best spent at one of the beach resorts
adjacent to the city itself, but no one who visits Jamaica should
miss out on exploring the interesting capital city. A Kingston
holiday attracts reggae fanatics, Rastafarians, those interested in
Caribbean art and music, and many a party animal keen to enjoy the
vibey nightlife.
The city is nestled in an idyllic tropical landscape with beautiful
beaches on its doorstep and the Blue Mountains looming behind,
beckoning birders and hikers onto its lush slopes.

Kingston is an enigmatic city, difficult to define, and with a
culture that sets it slightly apart from the rest of the island
nation. Parts of the inner-city can be dangerous and are best
avoided, but generally Kingston is welcoming and captivating,
combining the legacy of famous sons like Bob Marley with a
forward-looking, modern drive.

Best time to visit Kingston

Holiday in Kingston any time of year and you are assured of
sunshine and sultry tropical days and nights. Mountains shelter the
city from most of the rain, so even if you travel to Kingston
during the Caribbean rainy season (May to November), you are
unlikely to have tropical storms spoiling your fun. Having said
that, most visitors prefer to avoid the hurricane season in Jamaica
(June to November) and tourism peaks in the dry season between
mid-December and mid-April.

Beyond Kingston

Kingston is most commonly used as a springboard or starting
point for travel further afield in Jamaica. Port Antonio, separated from
Kingston by the Blue Mountains, is a popular destination, and
Ocho Rios is also close by.
Two other favourite beach resort destinations are Montego Bay and Negril, and although they are on the
other side of the island, Jamaica is small enough to allow for such
travel.

Getting there

The main gateway to the beaches and resorts of Jamaica, Norman
Manley Kingston International Airport, is located 11 miles (18km)
southeast of Kingston. The airport is undergoing an extensive
renovation which will only be complete in 2022, but it is a modern
and convenient airport, if a little chaotic. There are regular
cheap flights to Kingston from the US and the UK.

Did you know?

- Kingston was founded in 1692, as a refuge for survivors of the
earthquake that destroyed Port Royal.

- Traditionally, Queen Elizabeth II is still considered Queen of
Jamaica.

- Kingston boasts the world's seventh largest natural
harbour.

Become our Kingston Travel Expert

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If you are a local, a regular traveller to Kingston
or a travel professional with time to contribute and answer occasional forum questions, please contact us.